Browsing by Author "Mah, Jennifer"

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    Knowledge and performance: an examination of the role of explicit linguistic knowledge in L2 phonological acquisition
    (University of Calgary, 2002-09) Mah, Jennifer
    A major challenge facing adults acquiring a second language is the mastery of the second language (L2) phonology. Previous work by Han (1992) shows that even advanced students who have been deemed by native speakers to be fluent in their second language may have failed to completely master the L2 phonological system, resulting in an audible non-native accent. The present paper explores a possibility suggested by Han (1992): that explicit knowledge of the L2 phonology is required to successfully establish the appropriate phonological representations and achieve native-like performance with respect to the L2 phonology. Japanese utterances produced by a native speaker of English were recorded after four months of classroom exposure and examined for accuracy in timing control and spectral accuracy of long and short vowels, and timing control of geminate and singleton consonants. The results were then presented to the subject, and a second sample of utterances was recorded after a further two months of classroom exposure. Although the subject showed evidence of having established separate phonological representations for the Japanese length distinctions (as indicated by t tests), her performance was still distinct from that of a native speaker. Furthermore, the subject was not able to make use of the explicit knowledge gained from the results of the first round of recording, as the subject's performance did not show any significant change in the second round of recording. These results suggest that the knowledge of Japanese length contrasts may have been useful to the learner in establishing the appropriate phonological representations, but not in gaining control over the finer articulatory details of these in six months.
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    Optimizing the integration of family caregivers in the delivery of person-centered care: evaluation of an educational program for the healthcare workforce
    (2022-03-18) Parmar, Jasneet K.; L’Heureux, Tanya; Anderson, Sharon; Duggleby, Wendy; Pollard, Cheryl; Poole, Lisa; Charles, Lesley; Sonnenberg, Lyn K.; Leslie, Myles; McGhan, Gwen; Huhn, Arlene; Sereda, Sandy; Marion, Cecilia; Tarnowski, Glenda; Mah, Jennifer; Melenberg, Denise; Weir, Carolyn; Pooler, Charlotte; MacLachlan, Nora; Bremault-Phillips, Suzette; Tian, Peter G. J.; Sacrey, Lori-Ann R.
    Abstract Background While family caregivers provide 70-90% of care for people living in the community and assist with 10-30% of the care in congregate living, most healthcare providers do not meaningfully involve family caregivers as partners in care. Recent research recommends that the healthcare workforce receive competency-based education to identify, assess, support, and partner with family caregivers across the care trajectory. Objective This paper reports a mixed-methods evaluation of a person-centered competency-based education program on Caregiver-Centered Care for the healthcare workforce. Methods This foundational education was designed for all healthcare providers and trainees who work with family caregivers and is offered free online (caregivercare.ca). Healthcare providers from five healthcare settings (primary, acute, home, supportive living, long-term care) and trainees in medicine, nursing, and allied health were recruited via email and social media. We used the Kirkpatrick-Barr health workforce training evaluation framework to evaluate the education program, measuring various healthcare providers’ learner satisfaction with the content (Level 1), pre-post changes in knowledge and confidence when working with family caregivers (Level 2), and changes in behaviors in practice (Level 3). Results Participants were primarily healthcare employees (68.9%) and trainees (21.7%) and represented 5 healthcare settings. Evaluation of the first 161 learners completing the program indicated that on a 5-point Likert scale, the majority were satisfied with the overall quality of the education (Mean(M) = 4.69; SD = .60). Paired T-tests indicated that out of a score of 50, post-education changes in knowledge and confidence to work with family caregivers was significantly higher than pre-education scores (pre M = 38.90, SD = 6.90; post M = 46.60, SD = 4.10; t(150) = − 16.75, p < .0001). Qualitative results derived from open responses echoed the quantitative findings in satisfaction with the education delivery as well as improvements in learners’ knowledge and confidence. Conclusion Health workforce education to provide person-centered care to all family caregivers is an innovative approach to addressing the current inconsistent system of supports for family caregivers. The education program evaluated here was effective at increasing self-reported knowledge and confidence to work with family caregivers.
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    The acquisition of phonological features in a second language
    (2003) Mah, Jennifer; Archibald, John